Florence and the Machine is an indie band that’s finally getting a chance in the spotlight. First heard on the movie trailer for “Eat. Pray. Love.” the doors for Florence and her band have been opening as if the hinges of each one have been knocked down.

Their most popular song is “Dog Days Are Over,” not only featured on the movie trailer, but also performed live at the 2010 Video Music Awards. Live on stage Florence is a mature young adult artist, spreading her creativity through the audience when her lips part and the lyrics flow out. The performance was entrancing, with a wonderful visual background, great vocals, and wonderful choreographed dancers that truly brought life to her song.

Florence’s success may be due to her unique voice that can be comparable to Adele and Feist. Her vocals are strong and unique, as she sings low and loud. This range brings passion to her songs, adding the right amount of depth to theme, much like Adele and her “soulful” style. She fits perfectly into an up and coming genre that is rising on the Billboard 100. Mumford and Sons (“Little Lion Boy”), MGMT (“Kids”), and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s (“Maps”) are all artists that seem to go hand in hand with the new generation of music that Florence and her band are bringing to the table. It’s punky-indie, which is why ‘Dog Days’ is not the song that should define Florence and the Machine under a strict soulful acoustic category.

Although the group’s album “Lungs” debuted on Jul. 5 2009, the 23 year old is definitely proving to not be old news. Indeed, Florence has a talent with her music. R&B fans can find solace in her songs as she sings with a cause, again making her reminiscent of Adele. Punk rock potential is even hinted within Florence’s songs, “Kiss With a Fist” and “Drumming Song,” which show the fun and upbeat side to her songwriting. Even greater is that Florence can pertain to Christian-based markets with her single, “You’ve Got the Love.” Florence and the Machine have thus far proven, with their first album, to have a little something for everyone.

And if the lyrics aren’t good enough, the music certainly is, as Florence develops a very distinct style. Guitars, drums, and strong acoustics… the mix in Florence’s music is terrifyingly powerful. In fact, the mere discovery of Florence is an undeniably gift. The music takes you on a classical exploration of life. The album should in fact be treated as one long song, as it is truly a work of art and a strong example of creative expression.

True fans of visionary art will find a home in their hearts for this album. While the deluxe edition and select singles are not yet released in the United States, 13 tracks of Florence and the Machine’s album, “Lungs” can be found on iTunes for $9.99.

I give this album 5/5 panther paws